Barcelona enquired with Leeds United about a possible move for Rodrigo but were told he was not available this summer.
That’s according to Jota Jordi, who appeared on El Chiringuito to detail Barcelona’s attempts to find a striker this summer and their conversation with Leeds.
The Catalan giants agreed to a deadline day move for Sevilla striker Luuk de Jong earlier this week, signing the Dutchman on a season-long loan deal with an option to make it permanent.
He arrives to fill a hole in Ronald Koeman’s forward line, which has seen both Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann depart this summer.
De Jong is not the big-name signing that many at the club had been hoping for, particularly given president Joan Laporta returned as president with promises of Erling Haaland and his ilk.
According to Jordi, though, De Jong was not at the top of their list, and there had been conversations about other forwards that simply didn’t go anywhere.
“We already know that they have ended up signing Luuk de Jon because Ronald Koeman’s target was a nine,” he said.
“He spoke of and wanted De Jong, but Barca have been making moves for many weeks looking for a nine.
“Among others, for example, they have spoken to Cavani, and last week Mateo Alemany was in Manchester asking for Sterling. The answer was no.
“He was also in Leeds asking for Rodrigo, but again the answer was no.”
